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Telecommunications Industry: A Research Guide

Wired Telecommunications, Cable & Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Wired Telecommunications includes voice communications and VoIP (voice over internet protocol) telephony. Wired telecommunications carriers provide voice communication services over the wired public switched telephone network. Due to the move away from telephone landlines, many companies have diversified by investing in their own wireless networks. There is also a tendency for providers to bundle telephone, VoiP, cable television and internet services.

Cable providers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use wired infrastructure to provide internet access and cable television services. When researching the cable industry, there will be some overlap with television broadcasting. Wireless internet services have encroached on wired ISPs as well. However high-speed broadband, which generally transmits signals through coaxial or fiber optic cables, as well as the increase in overall demand for internet services has benefited the wired internet industry.

Selected Books

The following materials link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog. Links to online resources are included when available. E-books versions may be available onsite at the Library of Congress via the Library's STACKS database, accessible on dedicated computers in the reading rooms, or e-book subscription databases. These resources are focused on types of wired communications.

Selected Print Directories

Internet Resources

The following links are to select websites and online publications related to the wired telecommunications sector.